New Zealand conservationist lucky to be alive after vicious knife attack in Brazil
The long blade plunged into Pete Bethune missed vital organs as it became wedged in his ribs
Pete Bethune described the moment an attacker came at him with a huge rusty kitchen knife and thrust it into his ribs, saying he feared his “number was up”.
The Kiwi conservationist is recovering from the frightening ordeal in Brazil that came close to costing his life after a mystery man followed him through busy city streets before making his move.
A doctor tending to Bethune says he is a lucky man, spared from death thanks to the blade becoming wedged between his ribs.
Bethune told the Herald he was wandering alone through a busy part of Santander on Tuesday morning when he noticed a man following him. No stranger to being targeted by vigilante groups, the conservationist mistakenly thought he was safe given the large number of people around.
“I’ll never forget the sight of the knife coming out of his pocket. He pulled out this big old rusty knife out of his pocket.
“The blade was at least a foot long. It was a really big kitchen knife, like in a Psycho movie.